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Ontario Centre of Innovation

Government fundoperating company · company profile

Toronto · Pre-Seed–Growth · 19 people tracked

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Investment thesis

Ontario Centre of Innovation supports the province's innovation ecosystem by funding companies, fostering academic-industry collaboration, and accelerating the commercialization of made-in-Ontario technologies. Through programs such as the Life Sciences Innovation Fund, Digital Competence Centre, Ready 4 Market, and Collaborate 2 Commercialize, OCI mobilizes public and private co-investment to help businesses grow, modernize, adopt digital and AI capabilities, and retain and create jobs. It works closely with government, businesses, and academic institutions to advance innovation across sectors including life sciences and health technology.

Source: firm website, verified Aug 23, 2026.

Stage
Pre-Seed–Growth
Check
$500K
HQ
Toronto, ON, CA
Leads rounds
Follows
Instruments
Grants
Founded
2022
Tracked investments
21

Team · 19 people

from the firm's website

What they invest in

from 12 of 21 portfolio companies

Biotech ×6Healthtech ×6Medical Devices ×6AI & Machine Learning ×5Deep Tech ×4Digital Health ×4SaaS ×3FemTech ×2

HQs:Canada×8

Investments · 21 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path
PhenoTipsphenotips.comin𝕏✓ verified

PhenoTips develops software tools for genomic care that enable patients, doctors, and researchers to collaborate on diagnosis and treatment of genetic conditions.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesSaaSToronto, CA

Pawel Buczkowicz(Chief Operating Officer)

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programsThin Air LabsToronto Innovation Acceleration PartnersGreenSky Ventures

BoomGuard
Brooklyn Health

Company improving mental health assessment in clinical trials; raised $6.5M.

Cementation Americas

Continuing collaboration with LoopX on BoomGuard testing.

Cntrl+

Medical device company helping women with stress urinary incontinence, founded by Karen Brunet.

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Crewscopecrewscope.comin

Crewscope provides AI-powered field intelligence for construction site management, enabling real-time visibility of crew operations through SMS-based communication without requiring apps or login.

AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechEnterprise SoftwareSaaS

Calvin Benchimol(Co-founder CEO)Ehsan Foroughi(Co-founder CTO)

Co-investorsArchangel Network of FundsDMZ VenturesFuturesightGroundBreak VenturesOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Esphera SynBio Inc.espherasynbio.cain

Esphera designs transgenes that enable budding exosomes to carry multimeric proteins for therapeutic applications, with initial focus on modifying tumor-derived exosomes to create immunostimulatory cancer vaccines.

BiotechDeep TechMedical DevicesToronto, CA

Brian Lichty(Founder, CEO)inCarolina Ilkow(Founder, CSO)inJohn Bell(Founder, President)in

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Growcerthegrowcer.cain

Growcer provides modular growing infrastructure and ecosystem support to enable communities to produce fresh food year-round locally.

AgTechFoodTechHardwareImpact & Social Good

Corey Ellis(Co-founder)Alida Burke(Co-founder)

Co-investorsMaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF)Ontario Centre of Innovation programsSheBoot

Kare Chemical Technologieskarechem.comin

Kare Chemical Technologies is a pharmaceutical technology company using a patented catalytic process to convert limonene, a citrus by-product, into high-purity CB1 and CB2 receptor ligands for drug development.

BiotechCleantechDeep TechMedical DevicesNew MaterialsMississauga, CA

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

LoopX

Mining/automation company collaborating with Cementation Americas on BoomGuard testing.

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Marlowwearemarlow.com

Marlow makes organic, toxin-free and sustainable period care products designed for menstruating consumers.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFemTechCanada, CA

Nadia Ladak(Founder)in

Co-investorsConnecticut InnovationsOntario Centre of Innovation programsUCeed Funds

mDETECT Inc.mdetect-inc.com

mDETECT develops methylation- and NGS-based liquid biopsy tests to monitor metastatic cancer, aimed at clinical validation and commercial diagnostic use.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechDigital HealthMedical DevicesKingston, CA

Christopher Mueller(President and CEO)Irsa Wiginton(Business Development Officer)Keira Frosst(Scientific Officer)

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Moonrise Medical

Transforming vascular ultrasonography with AI-driven automation software.

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Myomar Molecular Inc.myomarmolecular.ca

Co-investorsMaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF)Ontario Centre of Innovation programs

MyStoria Inc.mystoria.comin

myStoria builds tools that help reproductive health patients organize their medical history and arrive at appointments better informed and prepared.

Digital HealthFemTechHealthtech

Jessica(Founder)

Co-investorsGraphite VenturesOntario Centre of Innovation programs

NodeAI Diagnostics Corp.nodeai.cain

NodeAI is a healthcare-focused company that builds algorithms and runs clinical trials with the aim of raising the standard of medical care.

AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesToronto, CA

Waël Hanna(Co-Founder / President & Chief Medical Officer)inAnthony Gatti(Co-Founder / Chief Technology Officer)inMackensey Bacon(Co-Founder / Chief Executive Officer)in

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Paradoximmunoparadoximmuno.comin𝕏

Paradox Immuno develops a platform for discovering therapies targeting protein misfolding diseases, leveraging proprietary research and lead identification technology to address rare conditions with no existing treatments.

AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechHealthtech

Co-investorsBeresford VenturesOntario Centre of Innovation programs

ScriptRunner Innovations Inc.scriptrunner.aiin

Script Runner provides AI-powered prescription logistics software for pharmacies and hospitals, automating delivery workflows and last-mile fulfillment while ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations.

HealthtechLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Stoked Biostokedbio.com

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Synakis Corp.synakis.cain

Synakis develops ocular biomaterials, including its lead candidate SNK-125, through pre-clinical research and a pipeline of eye-related products.

BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesToronto, CA

Thierry Nivaggioli(CEO)

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Synmedixinnovationfactory.ca

Co-investorsOntario Centre of Innovation programs

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has Ontario Centre of Innovation made?
Ontario Centre of Innovation has 21 tracked investments.
What stage does Ontario Centre of Innovation invest at?
Ontario Centre of Innovation invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth stages.
What is Ontario Centre of Innovation's typical check size?
Ontario Centre of Innovation typically writes checks of $500K.
What sectors does Ontario Centre of Innovation focus on?
Ontario Centre of Innovation focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, AgTech, AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Cleantech, Deep Tech, Digital Health, Energy, FemTech, Healthtech, Medical Devices, Mobility & Transportation, New Materials, Sector Agnostic.
Where is Ontario Centre of Innovation located?
Ontario Centre of Innovation is headquartered in Toronto, CA.
Does Ontario Centre of Innovation lead rounds?
Ontario Centre of Innovation typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Who does Ontario Centre of Innovation co-invest with?
Ontario Centre of Innovation most often shares deals with Ontario Centre of Innovation programs, MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF), Connecticut Innovations, among 13 tracked co-investors.

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